hearing myself called so by those I love, like you, Elsie."

She leant over me and kissed my forehead with a burst of genuine
delight.

"Then you love me, Una!" she exclaimed.

"How can I help it?" I answered. "I love you dearly already." And I
might have added with truth, "And your brother also."

For Jack was really, without any exception, the most lovable man I
ever met in my life--at once so strong and manly, and yet so womanly
and so gentle. Every day I stopped there, I liked him better and
better. I was glad when he came into my room, and sorry when he went
away again to work on the farm: for he worked very hard; his hand
was all horny with common agricultural labour. It was sad to think
of such a man having to do such work. And yet he was so clever, and
such a capital doctor. I wondered he hadn't done well and stayed in
England. But Elsie told me he'd had great disappointments, and
failed in his profession through no fault of his own. I could never
understand that: he had such a delightful manner. Though, perhaps I
was prejudiced; for, in point of fact, I began to feel I was really
in love with Jack Cheriton.

And Jack was in love with me too. This was a curious result of my
voyage to Canada in search of Dr. Ivor! Instead of hunting up the
criminal, I had stopped to fall in love with one of his friends and
neighbours. And I found it so delicious: I won't pretend to deny it.
I was absolutely happy when Jack sat by my bedside and held my hand
in his. I didn't know what it would lead to, or whether it would